The production of laccase by Trametes versicolor under semi-solid-state conditions has been studied. Several supports (polyurethane foam, wheat straw, barley straw, wood shavings and barley bran) have been tested in order to determine the most suitable for laccase production by the above-mentioned microorganism. Barley bran led to the highest activity levels, reaching maximum values of about 1200 U/l. In this stage of research, several factors affecting laccase production (veratryl alcohol, xylidine, fresh support and the initial C/N ratio) were investigated. Xylidine was shown to be the best inducer of laccase activity, attaining values of about 1700 U/l. Moreover, the addition of fresh support not only prolonged culture lifetime but also enhanced activity levels, reaching in all the cases values higher than 2000 U/l. In addition, the decolourisation of three structurally different, dyes by cultures grown on the best operating conditions determined in the present study, was monitored in order to assess the degrading capability of the ligninolytic complex secreted by such cultures. The decolourisation of all the dyes tested was almost total (85-96%) after 6 days of incubation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.